• Social media and short-form video lead in consumption, leaving conventional television and news apps behind

• Instagram established Instagram as the leading platform, especially among people under 35, ahead of Facebook YouTube

In recent years, the preference for watching videos online has increased significantly. In 2025, there was a B in the consumption of audiovisual content related to current events. Changes in audience habits indicate that video platforms and social media continue to play a significant leading role. The report confirms that this upward trend is evident in all countries analyzed: more than half of those surveyed across the 48 markets have increased the frequency with which enquiry news enquiry , and the average has reached 77%. The highest figures are recorded in Africa, where Kenya and Nigeria top the list with 98% of users reporting that they get their news this way. Elsewhere on the continent, the figures are close to or above 90%. In Asia, this format is most widely adopted in Thailand and the Philippines, while Latin America shows a similar trend with very high adoption rates, led by Peru (94%) and Mexico (89%).

In the case of Spain, the increase was four percentage points compared to 2025. Seventy-five percent of consumers of online news videos report having accessed short clips, live streams, or full episodes to stay informed about current events, compared to 25% who say they have not. This trend is also evident in other European countries, such as Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, and Portugal, where similar increases have been recorded. In France, Belgium, and Austria, the percentage stands at around 60%. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom and Germany have the lowest rates of audiovisual viewing, at 53%. However, it is worth noting that in both cases, there has been an increase of between four and eight percentage points compared to the previous year.

 

Informational videos are gaining popularity even among people over 65

Video has become one of the key mediums for disseminating news content, and its importance is growing thanks to increased access to mobile devices and the ability to create personalized content for each subject .

When breaking down the data gender and age, it becomes clear that this practice is widespread among both men and women. Furthermore, young people are much more likely than older age groups to get their news from social media. Specifically, 84% of people under 35 regularly access audiovisual news content, compared to 74% of those over 35.

Nationwide, the use of this format has increased by five percentage points among women compared to 2025, while among men the increase is two points. Among young adults aged 25 to 34, the percentage of views has risen significantly, exceeding 80%. On the other hand, among respondents aged 35 to 44, access to news videos has decreased slightly, while it has remained stable among group 45 to 54. Adults aged 55 to 64 have seen an increase of ten percentage points, a rise that is also reflected among the oldest demographic.

In terms of income level, a gradual increase is also observed. Seventy-six percent of respondents with low or middle incomes report regularly watching current events videos, a percentage that rises to 80% among those with high incomes. This trend suggests that as financial capacity increases, so does the consumption of multimedia content—a factor reinforced by widespread access to devices and internet connectivity. However, the difference compared to lower-income groups is only four percentage points. In the educational sphere, slightly lower consumption of news videos is observed among those with lower levels of programs of study 69%). Likewise, there is an increase of eight percentage points among those with programs of study or higher programs of study . Finally, there has been growth among individuals with Degree postgraduate program. Their video consumption has increased by ten percentage points compared to last year, exceeding 80%.

 

Online video viewing, the preferred format over TV

By 2023, it had already become clear that access to online video had surpassed that of traditional television. This shift was particularly evident among young audiences, who are accustomed to subject and ways of accessing subject . In 2026, the preference for online audiovisual content rose to 75% (an increase of four percentage points from the previous year), while access to information via television also rose by two percentage points.

Although the issue views tends to focus on platforms and social media, their use remains significant on news websites and apps. Therefore, it is important to analyze how this coexistence has evolved, as it involves journalism adapting to new audience demands, with a focus on new ways to generate engagement and on the length of news stories.

Since 2018, data has shown a steady increase of nearly 70% across social media and video platforms. The adaptability and flexibility of these channels have solidified their position as clear contenders for the presentation short videos or streaming content. On the other hand, demand for audiovisual content on news websites and media apps has fallen by ten percentage points, standing at 23%. 

Increased consumption of news videos on Youtube, Facebook Instagram

When Spanish audiences were asked where they had consumed news videos over the past week, there was a four-percentage-point decrease in the number of people who said they had not watched any (25%) compared to last year. Nearly 30% of those who did watch news videos reported accessing content on Instagram, a proportion very similar to that recorded for YouTube 27%) and Facebook 26%). These percentages have shown a steady increase compared to data . Other options trail behind, such as TikTok, which exceeds video consumption on news websites or apps by two percentage points (20%). On social media platforms like X WhatsApp, the figure is slightly lower. On LinkedIn, news content accounts for only 4%. These results suggest that, while the video format is widely used on social media, its application is often directed toward other forms of communication and entertainment that stray from purpose .

When breaking down the data by platforms used to follow current events, age is one of the most decisive variables for understanding how, where, and why news is consumed on digital platforms and social media. Twenty percent of the national audience accesses videos through websites and apps specializing in news, a percentage that increases by four points among those under 35. A comparison with 2025 shows a steady increase. Thus, Instagram established Instagram as the leading platform for consuming news videos among those under 35, with a growth B twelve percentage points. It is also worth noting the growing use of TikTok for news consumption TikTok younger audiences. Both platforms are characterized by incidental consumption, driven primarily by visual and entertainment-based content.

News consumption on YouTube X 28% among the group . In contrast, among older adults, Facebook the reference letter platform reference letter 30%), closely followed by YouTube 26%) and Instagram 25%). Conversely, platforms such as TikTok WhatsApp rank as the least-used options among this group, failing to reach the 20% threshold. The most pronounced generational gaps are found on X, a platform that—despite experiencing an overall decline—is used less frequently by those over 35. In contrast, LinkedIn as a significant option for nearly 10% of younger users, standing out for its academic and professional focus compared to other platforms with a more recreational nature.

Although many people currently consume more audiovisual content on social media than news on websites, this does not necessarily imply a decline in interest in news. In fact, the use of these platforms can increase exhibition news content. More than 70% of users who show a high level of interest get their news through current events videos on social media, and nearly 30% do so through websites or apps specializing in news. Meanwhile, 63% of those who say they have a moderate interest in current events receive audiovisual information through social media. Finally, less than half of people with little or no interest in the news use social media accounts to follow the most relevant events.

 

Video Length

Online news consumption sample clear preference for short videos, which stand out for their immediacy, fast-paced format, and ability to capture attention in just a few seconds. Access to current events through short-form content exceeds 80% on platforms such as X, Instagram, TikTok Facebook, where algorithms prioritize short clips over long-form content. However, long-form news videos are not disappearing; rather, they are concentrated primarily on YouTube 70%). This platform exemplifies a hybrid environment where in-depth analysis and short-form content coexist, with adoption rates exceeding 40%. Despite being accessed less frequently, longer videos allow for a exhibition detailed exhibition of topics and better contextualization of the information.

Now that we’ve discussed the trend toward short videos, it’s worth analyzing the differences between YouTube TikTok. This analysis reveals two distinct models of digital consumption that vary significantly depending on profile . While the former is known for more in-depth and extensive informational content, the latter is characterized by its casual nature and the immediacy of browsing. In this regard, there is a marked preference for long-form videos among men (47%) compared to women (36%). This trend is more evident among group , in contrast to adults over 35.

On TikTok , meanwhile, the short-form format TikTok across all age groups. However, this dominance of short videos is slightly higher among women (85%) and those under 35 (87%), establishing it as the preferred option for quickly consuming information.

An analysis of the different video lengths across the five leading social media platforms reveals that YouTube X the preferred platforms for watching news clips between two and five minutes long. In addition, YouTube for content between six and twenty minutes, as well as for videos longer than that. On the other platforms, the percentage of long-form video does not exceed 15%. In contrast, more than half of Facebook users Facebook to watch news content that is less than two minutes long. On Instagram, X TikTok, this preference for short-form content exceeds 60%, while live streaming accounts for only 13% of viewing on YouTube, Facebook X. Finally, it is important to note that the implementation of personalized algorithms has a significant impact on news consumption. As has been shown, meeting users’ diverse needs is achieved through engagement dynamics and the presentation news content tailored to each Username.